Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-12-28

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be throw open now and then and the
rude jest OF the inmates could be heard
even above the storm, while the foul,
sickening stencil from within was
! blown in their faces.
The girl now led the way into mar
row court, and in moment more
stopped before the door OF one of the
squalid-looking tenements. Without
hesitation Mr.. Selwyn entered after
his little conductor, and climbing
three pairs Of dark, rickety stairs
they came to a door on the right,
which the girl opened and hastily disap-
peared within. Mr.. Selwyn followed in
the footsteps of the child. and entered
the room in time to hear the lit tie girl
Observation-Disclosures, mamma! here's
O. gentleman come to see you, and oh,
mamma! see what he's brought you!
Now you'll get well, and we won't be
cold or hungry any more"
sMy dear child, where have you
been SO long? [ have been terribly
worried about you. | thought my
little daughter must be lost in the
dreadful storm" said Mrs. Hammond
in g. weak voice, raising herself with
difficulty from the rude couch on which
she was lying.
Mr.. selwyn here stepped forward
and explained.
sob, how could you, Mary? Oh,
my dear child, has it come to this,
that you should have to 60 out into
the streets to beg?" and the poor
woman covered her face with her
hands and burst into tears. The hu
initiation seemed more than she could
bear.
Mr.. Selwyn had been watching Mrs.
Hammond closely, Cor something in
her speech and manner caused his
heart to thump almost audibly in
his bosom.
Madam, my name is John Sell
wyn!' upon the utterance of which
he watched her anxiously.
At the mention of that name Mrs.
Hammond turned her gaze wildly
upon him.
"Merciful God" she exclaimed;
"John! John Selwyn! l had q broth
or by that name, but have not seen
CT heard from him in ten long years. !"
John Selwyn knelt down by the bed
side In that cold, cheerless room, for
the fire and warmth had left it long
before he entered there.
"Mary, do you not recognize me? ]
am that long-lost brother, returned
to you through q divine Providence"
and clasping the thin, emaciated
hands OF the sick woman in his own,
he poured out his thanks to q mercl-
full God, who had directed his foot
steps that night.
But something must be done at
once for the mother and child. Spring
ing to his feet, and imploring her not
to utter another word, he Invested
himself of his overcoat and laid it up
on the sick woman; then Selling the
basket he emptied its contents upon
the table.
Among the ea5ables, In one corner
Of the basket, was bottle Of wine
which the thoughtful porter had
slowed away there. At the sight of it
John promised himself to pay the
kind porter fifty fold the next day.
The child meanwhile, having thrown
aside her shawls, mad stood IN mute
astonishment at the strange scene be-
ing enacted before her; but she now
sprang forward and was clasped in
the arms Of her Uncle John, about
whom her mother had SO often told
her.
John kissed the cold cheeks OF the
little girl and Rugged her little form
closely to his breast, as if to impart
to her some of the warmth contained
| there.
ooh, Pm so glad!" exclaimed the
child, "and now mamma can have g.
fire and get well again, can't she,
Uncle John ?" looking up into his face
with her soul in her eyes.
eyes, my dear child, God willing,
there shall be no more suffering for
want OF food or happiness" and he
thought it strange as ne caressed her
thin cheeks, that he had not noted be.
fore how beautiful she was.
Hastily setting her aside as the
thought came to him that he was
neglecting the poor sick mother, he re-
turned to the bedside of Mrs. Ham
mond and gave her generous dose of
the wine, for which he was rewarded
by O. grateful glance from her express
sive eyes, for she was too exhausted
now through want of proper nourish-
ment, cold and excitement to give her
thoughts utterance.
The tenant down stairs, g. kindly
Irishwoman, here made her appearance
and before she could utter q syllable,
Mr.. Selwyn asked her to stay with the
sick woman until his return.
"God bless ye sir, for coming to this
house on such a night, too, to see a.
sick woman, and she without penny
to pay q doctor. Will I stay, is it
Troth haven't [ wore the soles off me
two shoes a-trottin' up and down
the stairs, attindin' to the lady; for a.
lady she truly is, yer honor, God
bless the dear heart OF her, and the
dear little innocent child furninst ye.
May the good God in Heaven bless
her, and haven't she been out this
blessed night to fetch yes to see her
sick mother"
Here she was interrupted by Mr.
Selwyn, whom she evidently mistook
to be the doctor, and he didn't, for
reasons best known to himself, unde-
ceive her.
UYou have wood in thehouse Ts,1n-